Device for fastening lines



1967 L. A. BERG 3,349,745

DEVICE FOR FASTENING LINES Filed June 24, 1966 15k LA 40 66 .70 514 AA\ 511 m gmvxwx INVENTOR Lou/5' f7. Berg 3" J; ATTORfiIfYS.

United States Patent 3,349,745 DEVI'CE FQR FASTENING LINES Louis A. Berg, 9804 Plymouth Lane, Raytown, Mo. 64133 Filed June 24, 1966, Ser. No. 560,202 Claims. (Cl. 114-230) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A line fastener comprising a massive block configured with a cavity therein and a channel communicating the cavity with the exterior of the block. A ball aflixed to a line is received in the recess with the line extending outwardly through the channel for attachment to an object to be secured by the line. A cover is mounted on the block covering the cavity and channel to secure the line to the block and a tumbler lock releasably secures the cover over the cavity and channel. The cover is movable to permit selective insertion or removal of the ball and line.

This invention relates to a device for fastening a line and, more particularly, to a block and cable assembly for mooring a boat to a dock.

Small boats are normally moored to a dock by securing a rope to the boat and tying the same to a railing or cleat on the dock. Tying the rope is time-consuming and often the rope becomes knotted and tangled, rendering it difficult to handle and thereby further delaying the mooring of the boat. In addition, the rope may accidentally become untied or may easily be cut by vandals or thieves to set the boat free.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a sturdy locking device which eliminates the deficiencies of prior mooring techniques by utilizing structure which releasably retains an anchor line secured to the boat without any attendant need for tying knots in the line. The line is easily and quickly secured to and released from the device whereby time consumption is greatly reduced and, in addition, the line cannot become accidentally dislodged after it is locked in place.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character wherein the knotless retaining method permits the use of a stiff, sturdy line material, such as wire cable, which may be used for a prolonged period of time and also is not easily cut by vandals or thieves.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a fastening device made pursuant to the present invention showing the same mounted on a dock and having its cover in a locked position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof showing the cover in an unlocked position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3,of FIG. 2;

along line 4-4 of FIG. 3';

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view showing the auxiliary holding means for the cover; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of the pivot means for the cover.

Referring to FIG. 1, the device of the present invention, broadly designated by the reference numeral 10, is adapted to be secured to a dock 12 for fastening one end of a cable or line 14 which is secured at its opposite end to a boat adjacent clock 12. Device broadly comprises a block 16 having a cover plate 18 swingably mounted thereon by pivot means 20, there being latch means 22 for locking cover 18 to block 16.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken Block 16 comprises a massive rectangular body presenting a front surface 24, a rear surface 26 side surfaces 28, upper surface 30, and lower surface 32. A cavity 34 is formed in block 16 and communicates with upper surface 30, the cavity presenting a cylindrical sidewall 36 which terminates in a conical seat 38. A channel 40 is provided in block 16 and communicates with front surface 24, upper surface 30, and cavity 34.

A mounting bore 42 is disposed adjacent each corner of block 16 and communicates between upper surface 30 and lower surface 32. Each bore 42 is enlarged adjacent upper surface 34} to present an annular shoulder 44.

A passage 46 is disposed adjacent a rear corner of block 16 and extends vertically through the latter for communication with a slot 48 adjacent lower surface 32. Passage 46 is enlarged at its lowermost end to receive the head 50 of a pivot pin 52 extending through passage 46 and terminating in a threaded uppermost end 54. A key 56 is rigidly secured to head 50 and is complementally received in slot 48 to preclude turning of pivot pin 52.

A recess 58 is provided in block 16 and communicates with upper surface 30. A shiftable tumbler 6tl is disposed in recess 58 and is coupled to key mean-s 62 which extends through block 16 to front surface 24 where the key insert 64 is disposed. Tumbler 68 is pivotally mounted for shifting between a horizontal position below upper surface 30 to a vertical position thereabove (FIG. 4). This shifting is effected by placing a key 65 into insert 64 and suitably turning the key for operation through key means 62.

Cover plate 18 presents an outer surface 66 and an inner surface 68, the latter being adapted for complemental engagement with upper planar surface 30 of block 16. Cover 18 is in threaded interengagement with end 54 of pivot pin 52 to swingably mount cover 18 on block 16 for pivoting about an axis normal to upper surface 30 and parallel thereto. An elongated depression 70 is formed in the inner surface 68 of cover 18 and is normally in alignment with tumbler 60.

A screw 72 is threaded into upper surface 30 of block 16 adjacent front surface 24. The shank 74 of screw 72 extends slightly above upper surface 30 and cooperates with head 76 of screw '72 to present a T-shaped stud projection. A groove 78 is formed in inner surface 68 of cover 18 and extends longitudinally along an are having pin 52 as its central axis, the radius of the are being equal to the distance between pin 52 and screw '72. Groove 78 is transversely T-shaped and open at end 80 so that it may be complementally received by screw 72.

In use, bolts 82 are inserted through corresponding mounting bores 42 with the heads 84 thereof engaging shoulder 44 and the lower ends thereof extending below lower surface 32 and secured to dock 12 for mounting block 16. Key 65 is turned to shift tumbler 60 into its horizontal position below upper surface 30 so that cover 18 may be swung to a first position exposing cavity 34 and channel 40 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Line 14 has an enlarged metallic ball anchor element 86 adapted to be received by cavity 34 on seat 38 with line 14 being drawn through channel 40. Cover 18 is then swung into a second position about pin 52 with inner surface 68 complementally overlying upper surface 30 of block 16. Screw 72 complementally receive-s groove 78 as the latter swings into position. Key 65 is then turned to shift tumbler 60 into a vertical position which places the upper portion of the tumbler within depression 70.

Line 14 is thus fastened by device 10, it being recognized that channel 40 is dimensioned to restrict passage of ball element 86 whereby the latter is retained within cavity 34. When key 65 is removed from insert 64, cover 18 cannot be swung away to release anchor element 86 since tumbler 60 is disposed in the swinging path of the inset surface structure 88 presented by depression 70 to thereby effect a locking interengagement bet-ween tumbler 60 and inset surface 88. Cover 18 also may not be shifted along an axis transversely of upper surface 30 for the reason that pin 52 is threadably interengaged with the cover. Screw '72 serves as auxiliary holding means for preventing transverse shifting to protect against attempts to pry cover 18 upwardly.

It is, of course, clear that the fastening of line 14 is quickly and easily accomplished since the conventional tying operation is eliminated and replaced by a positive retention means which will not permit accidental release of the line. Since a tying operation is not required, line 14 may be constructed of a sturdy material, such as a wire cable, which will retain its strength over a long period of time and also will be difficult to cut, thereby discouraging thieves or vandals from attempting to release the boat.

When the operator of the boat desires to release ball element 86, he need only insert key 65 and turn the same to shift tumbler 60 into its horizontal position below upper surface 30 whereby plate 18 is permitted to swing to its first position exposing cavity 34 and channel 40, to the end that line 14 may be drawn upwardly to lift ball element 86 from cavity 34.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for fastening an end of a line having a relatively enlarged anchor element secured at said end, said device comprising:

a block having adjacent first and second surfaces and provided with a cavity and channel,

said cavity communicating with said first surface and adapted to receive said element,

said channel communicating with said cavity and said first and second surfaces, and adapted to receive said line and dimensioned to restrict passage of said element,

a cover for said first surface;

means mounting said cover on the block for movement between a first position exposing said cavity and channel, and a second position overlying said first surface; and

locking means for securing the cover to the block when the cover is in said second position whereby when the element is placed in said cavity and the line drawn through said channel, said cover may be moved from said first position to said second position and locked to fasten the line to the block said block having a recess communicating with said first surface, said locking means including a shiftable tumbler in said recess and structure on said cover adapted for locking interengagement with said tumbler 'when the cover is in said second position, there being key means coupled to said tumbler through said block for shifting the tumbler from an unlocked position in said recess to said locking interengagement position with said structure to preclude movement of said cover from said second position.

2. The invention of claim 1, said block comprising a massive body presenting a planar first surface, and said cover comprising a plate having an inner surface adapted to complementally engage said first surface,

3. The invention of claim 1, said tumbler being disposed entirely within said recess when in said unlocked position, said cover having a depression formed in said inner surface to present an inset surface defining said structure, said key means being operable to shift said tumbler into said depression and the swinging path of said inset surface to thereby preclude swinging of the cover.

4. In an assembly for mooring a boat to a dock:

a cable adapted to be secured at one end thereof to the boat;

an anchor element secured to the other end of said cable;

a massive block having a planar first surface and an adjacent second surface and provided with a cavity and a channel,

said cavity communicating with said first surface and adapted to receive said element,

said channel communicating with said cavity and said first and second surfaces, and adapted to receive said cable and dimensioned to restrict passage of said element,

a cover plate having an inner surface adapted to complementally engage said first surface;

means mounting said plate to said block for shifting between a first position exposing said cavity and channel and a second position overlying said first surface; and

locking means for securing the plate to the block when the cover is in said second position whereby when the element is placed in said cavity and the cable drawn through said channel, said plate may be shifted from said first position to said second position and locked to fasten said cable to the block said block having a recess communicating with said first surface, said plate having a depression formed in said inner surface to present an inset surface, said locking means including a tumbler in said recess and key means coupled to said tumbler through said block for shifting the tumbler from an unlocked position in said recess to a locking position in said depression into the path of said inset surface to preclude movement of said cover.

5. The invention of claim 4, said block having a third surface and a number of bores interconnecting said first and third surfaces, each bore being enlarged adjacent said first surface to present a shoulder whereby a headed connector may be inserted in a corresponding bore with the head thereof engaging said shoulder and the lower end extending through said third surface and secured to the dock for mounting the block thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,012 4/1948 Haver 24-123 3,101,695 8/1963 Honeyman 114-230 FOREIGN PATENTS 765,877 1/1957 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner, T, M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A DEVICE FOR FASTENING AN END OF A LINE HAVING A RELATIVELY ENLARGED ANCHOR ELEMENT SECURED AT SAID END, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A BLOCK HAVING ADJACENT FIRST AND SECOND SURFACES AND PROVIDED WITH A CAVITY AND CHANNEL, SAID CAVITY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST SURFACE AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID ELEMENT, SAID CHANNEL COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CAVITY AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND SURFACES, AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID LINE AND DIMENSIONED TO RESTRICT PASSAGE OF SAID ELEMENT, A COVER FOR SAID FIRST SURFACE; MEANS MOUNTING SAID COVER ON THE BLOCK FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION EXPOSING SAID CAVITY AND CHANNEL, AND A SECOND POSITION OVERLYING SAID FIRST SURFACE; AND LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING THE COVER TO THE BLOCK WHEN THE COVER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION WHEREBY WHEN THE ELEMENT IS PLACED IN SAID CAVITY AND THE LINE DRAWN THROUGH SAID CHANNEL, SAID COVER MAY BE MOVED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION AND LOCKED TO FASTEN THE LINE TO THE BLOCK SAID BLOCK HAVING A RECESS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST SURFACE, AND LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A SHIFTABLE TUMBLER IN SAID RECESS AND STRUCTURE ON SAID COVER ADAPTED FOR LOCKING INTERENGAGEMENT WITH THE TUMBLER WHEN THE COVER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION, THERE BEING KEY MEANS COUPLED TO SAID TUMBLER THROUGH SAID BLOCK FOR SHIFTING THE TUMBLER FROM AN UNLOCKED POSITION IN SAID RECESS TO SAID LOCKING INTERENGAGEMENT POSITION WITH SAID STRUCTURE TO PRECLUDE MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER FROM SAID SECOND POSITION. 